Recently we checked in on the Google + Blogging community to talk to a few digital friends, learn about some new blogging tools and to stir the pot up. In the course of our Google + Blogging community adventure, we came across the following user post:
“Many people have had heated argument concerning writing of long posts and short posts for a blog. Now, the issue of long blog posts VS short blog posts is raised again. Have you ever had a thought of the implication of each of them to your blog? What is your take?” – Edwin Akwudolu
While the post got some attention and interaction within the community, one response got us to thinking about content length vs. content complexity vs. content shareability. The response is as follows:
“+Edwin Akwudolu & +123Print When it comes to blogging, I think length is determined by subject matter, complexity of topic and intended audience.
Without question you want to write your blogs with a concise message, purpose and tone. More importantly you want to construct blogs which serve a purpose. There is no reason to write a 600 word or 1,500 word #blog if you have nothing good to impart to your audience.
The first consideration with writing a blog post should be, “do I have something worthwhile to say? If I were reading this piece of #content would I take something useful from it?” If the answer is no to either one of those, you shouldn’t write the post.
When it comes to length, it can be said the analytics behind blog posts tend to slant towards quicker blasts (400 – 700 words). Length this is also dependent on topic. If the topic of your blog post can fit into a 650 word article without the need to explain or drill into the concept any deeper, use that length. However, if the content theme you are writing about is more complex, more subtle and demands a higher level of knowledge, write a longer post.
Blog length shouldn’t be a determining factor in posting. Making sure your content is useful, clear and concise should be. If you construct a well written, very informative, very complex piece of content which carries weight the entire way through yet clocks in at 3,500 words, run that post.
Length shouldn’t scare your decision.” – Jack Yale
The post and response got us to thinking about how content is utilized in today’s Cloud based social channels and more importantly if the age old question of quality over quantity can finally be answered.
Quality and Complexity Count
Without beating around the bush, we here at QuoteColo.com believe in quality and quantity. When it comes to blogging around complex subjects, there is no need to limit yourself to 500 – 700 words if your content is informative and engaging. With a complex subject demanding more than a mere 600 words, bloggers (like us) should feel free to expand their topic to carry the weight of information.
It should go without saying but the moment a blogger loses train of thought or runs out of intellectual steam that is the blog post ends. Flying in the face of limited attention spans and what Google deems viral content, informative, well-written and engaging content should expand to the limit of complexity. As long as the content is interesting, engaging and informative, there is no reason to limit a blog post to 600 words because readers will continue to read on.